Blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels in donkeys and mules near a secondary lead smelter in Jamaica, 1987-88.
During the course of an investigation into community lead poisoning near a secondary lead smelter in Jamaica, blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels were measured in 8 exposed and 6 (3 Jamaican, 3 US) unexposed donkeys and mules. The blood lead levels of 6 animals in the contaminated area ranged from 7.5 to 33 micrograms/dl (mean = 17.6 micrograms/dl), compared to 1.8 and 2.4 in unexposed Jamaican animals. More striking was the difference in zinc protoporphyrin levels; all 8 exposed donkeys and mules had values between 900 and 1890 micrograms/dl, compared with a range of 34-46 micrograms/dl for 3 Jamaican control donkeys. These findings suggest that zinc protoporphyrin may be a useful method of screening for subclinical lead toxicity in equines.
Ostrowski
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SR
Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
Gunter
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EW
Matte
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D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis; D007563:Jamaica; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008669:Metallurgy; D010527:Perissodactyla / Q000097:blood*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000097:blood*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood*
D011166:Porphyrins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C017803:zinc protoporphyrin; D007854:Lead